Watford ended a run of seven Championship games without a win and handed Ed Still his first victory as head coach with a 2-0 success over Derby County at Vicarage Road. Luca Kjerrumgaard struck after just five minutes and substitute Mamadou Doumbia added a breakaway second in the 90th minute to seal a result that tightens an already congested play-off race.
The Hornets, on their third permanent manager of the season and playing under Still at home for the first time, produced a display that combined an explosive start with far greater defensive control than in last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Preston. Derby enjoyed periods of possession but failed to register a shot on target before the interval and rarely stretched Egil Selvik, as Watford recorded a sixth consecutive victory over the Rams and joined them on points, both sitting three adrift of the top six with Derby eighth and Watford ninth.
Kjerrumgaard pounces as Watford make dream start
Any nerves around Vicarage Road evaporated almost immediately when Watford’s first serious attack produced a goal inside five minutes. Othmane Maamma drove at Joe Ward down the left, beat the Derby full-back and drilled a low cross into a packed six-yard box. Edo Kayembe met it, only to see his shot desperately blocked by the diving Matt Clarke and Dion Sanderson, but when the ball squirmed loose on-loan Udinese striker Kjerrumgaard reacted quickest to slam his finish past Josh Vickers.